Systems and Methods for Analyzing Microbiological Substances

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are systems and methods for monitoring a fluid for the purpose of identifying microbiological content and/or microorganisms and determining the effectiveness of a microbiological treatment. One method of monitoring a fluid includes containing the fluid within a flow path, the fluid including at least one microorganism present therein, optically interacting electromagnetic radiation from the fluid with at least one integrated computational element, thereby generating optically interacted light, receiving with at least one detector the optically interacted light, and generating with the at least one detector an output signal corresponding to a characteristic of the fluid, the characteristic of the fluid being a concentration of the at least one microorganism within the fluid.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to and is a continuation-in-partapplication of co-owned U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 13/198,915;13/198,950; 13/198,972; 13/204,005; 13/204,046; 13/204,123; 13/204,165;13/204,213; and 13/204,294, each of which were filed on Aug. 5, 2011.The contents of each priority application are hereby incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to methods for monitoring a fluid in ornear real-time and, more specifically, to methods for monitoring a fluidfor the purpose of identifying microbiological content and/ormicroorganisms therein and determining the effectiveness of amicrobiological treatment.

The presence of bacteria and other microorganisms in a substance isoften determined after enhancing low levels of biological material todetectable levels. In some cases, a sample of the substance can becultured under conditions that are conducive for growth of a particularbiological material. In other cases, nucleic acid amplificationtechniques, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), can be used toincrease levels of nucleic acids. Culturing methods, in particular, maysometimes be non-specific, as many different types of microorganisms maygrow under the chosen culturing conditions, whereas only certainmicroorganisms may be of interest for an analysis. Furthermore, bothculturing and nucleic acid amplification techniques are oftenconstrained by the timeframe over which they are conducted. PCRtechniques, for example, may take several hours or more to producesufficient nucleic acid quantities for analysis, and culturing may takedays to weeks to complete. Methods for real-time or near real-timemonitoring of bacteria and other microorganisms are believed to not yethave been developed.

The present inability to monitor bacteria and other microorganisms in asufficiently rapid manner can have significant ramifications for avariety of commercial and industrial products and processes. Forexample, due to a limited shelf life, a product (e.g., a foodstuff orpharmaceutical) may have been transported to a store and released forpublic consumption before product quality testing has been fullycompleted. By the time a biological contamination has been uncovered, itcan oftentimes be too late, as consumers may have already been exposedto the contaminated product. Not only can human health be compromised,but valuable process time, raw materials, and other resources may havebeen lost by preparing and distributing a contaminated product.

Although biological contamination is a recognizable concern in the foodand drug industry, the problem of contamination by bacteria and othermicroorganisms extends to a much broader array of fields, includingthose not directly impacting human health. For example, and withoutlimitation, biological monitoring of water treatment and wastewaterprocessing streams, including those from refineries, can be ofsignificant interest due to downstream contamination issues. Insubterranean oil and gas operations, biological contamination can reduceproduction and/or result in biofouling of equipment and wellboresurfaces. In addition, biological contamination on some solid surfacescan lead to structural defects, including corrosion, that ultimately mayresult in mechanical failure. In short, any industry in which monitoringof biological contamination or concentration is of interest couldpotentially benefit from more rapid detection techniques for biologicalmaterials.

While monitoring for the presence of biological materials, there isoften also an interest in reducing or otherwise preventing biologicalcontamination within a substance, such as a fluid. In some instances, abiocide may be used to slow or stop biological growth. Although biocidesmay often be effective for addressing the particular biologicalcontamination, their effects can sometimes be slow acting. In addition,at least some members of a population of microorganisms are able tosurvive various biocide treatments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to methods for monitoring a fluid in ornear real-time and, more specifically, to methods for monitoring a fluidfor the purpose of identifying microbiological content and/ormicroorganisms therein and to determine the effectiveness of amicrobiological treatment.

In at least one aspect of the disclosure, a system is disclosed andincludes a flow path containing a fluid having at least onemicroorganism present therein, at least one integrated computationalelement configured to optically interact with the fluid and therebygenerate optically interacted light, and at least one detector arrangedto receive the optically interacted light and generate an output signalcorresponding to a characteristic of the fluid, the characteristic ofthe fluid being indicative of a concentration of the at least onemicroorganism within the fluid.

In other aspects of the disclosure, a method of monitoring a fluid isdisclosed. The method may include containing the fluid within a flowpath, the fluid including at least one microorganism present therein,optically interacting electromagnetic radiation from the fluid with atleast one integrated computational element, thereby generating opticallyinteracted light, receiving with at least one detector the opticallyinteracted light, and generating with the at least one detector anoutput signal corresponding to a characteristic of the fluid, thecharacteristic of the fluid being a concentration of the at least onemicroorganism within the fluid.

In yet other aspects of the disclosure, a quality control method for afluid is disclosed. The method may include optically interacting anelectromagnetic radiation source with a fluid contained within a flowpath and at least one integrated computational element, therebygenerating optically interacted light, the fluid having at least onemicroorganism present therein, receiving with at least one detector theoptically interacted light, measuring a characteristic of the fluid withthe at least one detector, the characteristic of the fluid being aconcentration of the at least one microorganism present therein,generating an output signal corresponding to the characteristic of thefluid, and undertaking at least one corrective step when thecharacteristic of the fluid surpasses a predetermined range of suitableoperation.

The features and advantages of the present invention will be readilyapparent to one having ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of thedescription of the preferred embodiments that follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following figure is included to illustrate certain aspects of thepresent invention, and should not be viewed as an exclusive embodiment.The subject matter disclosed is capable of considerable modification,alteration, and equivalents in form and function, as will occur to onehaving ordinary skill in the art and the benefit of this disclosure.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary integrated computation element,according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram non-mechanistically illustrating howan optical computing device distinguishes electromagnetic radiationrelated to a characteristic of interest from other electromagneticradiation, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary system for monitoring a fluid, accordingto one or more embodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates another exemplary system for monitoring a fluid,according to one or more embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to methods for monitoring a fluid in ornear real-time and, more specifically, to methods for monitoring a fluidfor the purpose of identifying microbiological content and/ormicroorganisms therein and to determine the effectiveness of amicrobiological treatment.

The exemplary systems and methods described herein employ variousconfigurations of optical computing devices, also commonly referred toas “opticoanalytical devices,” for the real-time or near real-timequantification of specific microbiological species and strains that livein fuel, hydrocarbons, and/or water contained in a flow path. Asdiscussed above, conventional methods for monitoring and addressingbiological contamination may be limited both by their effectiveness andtimeliness of producing results. The optical computing devices describedherein, however, can advantageously provide real-time or near real-timefluid monitoring that cannot presently be achieved with either onsiteanalyses at a job site or via more detailed analyses that take place ina laboratory. A significant and distinct advantage of these devices isthat they can be configured to specifically detect and/or measure aparticular component or characteristic of interest of a fluid, such as aset of pre-chosen microbiological species within the fluid, therebyallowing qualitative and/or quantitative analyses of the fluid to occurwithout having to extract a sample and undertake time-consuming analysesof the sample at an off-site laboratory.

With the ability to undertake real-time or near real-time analyses, theexemplary systems and methods described herein may be able to providesome measure of proactive or responsive control over a fluid within aflow path, enable the collection and archival of fluid information inconjunction with operational information to optimize subsequentoperations, and/or enhance the capacity for remote job execution. Aswill become apparent to those skilled in the art, the disclosed systemsand methods may be advantageous in the quantification of bacteria,microorganisms, and other microbiological species within a flow path,determining the need for an anti-microbiological treatment within theflow path, determining the effectiveness of the anti-microbiologicaltreatment, and determining the concentration of sulfate reducing or acidproducing bacteria within the flow path. By determining the foregoingparameters, flow paths can be treated in an increasingly tailoredfashion, thereby allowing for reduced anti-microbiological chemicalcosts which can save significant sums of capital costs.

Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the systems andmethods disclosed herein may be suitable for use in the oil and gasindustry since the described optical computing devices provide acost-effective, rugged, and accurate means for monitoring hydrocarbon,fuel, and/or water quality in order to facilitate the efficientmanagement of oil/gas production. It will be further appreciated,however, that the various disclosed systems and methods are equallyapplicable to other technologies or industrial fields including, but notlimited to, the food, medical, and drug industries, industrialapplications, pollution mitigation, recycling industries, miningindustries, security and military industries, forensics, processingindustries, fish and livestock industries, agricultural industries,veterinarian sciences, epidemiology and other microbiological studies,or any field where it may be advantageous to determine in real-time ornear real-time the concentration or a characteristic of a specificmicrobiological specie or strain in a flowing fluid. In someapplications, the disclosed systems and methods may be useful inmonitoring bio-decontamination applications, such as hydrocarbon ormetal digesting microorganisms.

In at least one embodiment, for example, the present systems and methodsmay be employed in water analyses, including drinking water, wastewater, and processing water analyses; bodily fluids, foodstuff,beverage, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic analyses; surface analyses; oil,gas, treatment fluid, drilling mud, and subterranean fluid analyses; andthe like. In addition, the present systems and methods may be used inthe healthcare industry to assay for biological contamination onsurfaces such as, for example, medical devices, surgical instruments,and the like. Other industries where it may be desirable to monitor forbiological contamination on a surface may be envisioned by one havingordinary skill in the art. The systems and methods described herein maybe used in any field where it is desirable to assay for microorganismsand/or determine the effectiveness of a remediation operation used tocontrol microorganisms. Given the benefit of the present disclosure, onehaving ordinary skill in the art will be able to apply the techniquesdescribed herein to any application in which it is desirable to controland measure microorganisms or other microbiological substances in afluid.

The optical computing devices suitable for use in the presentembodiments can be deployed at any number of various points within aflow path to monitor the fluid and the various changes that may occurthereto between two or more points. Depending on the location of theparticular optical computing device, various types of information aboutthe fluid can be obtained. In some cases, for example, the opticalcomputing devices can be used to monitor changes to the fluid as aresult of adding an anti-bacterial or anti-microbiological treatmentthereto, removing an anti-bacterial treatment therefrom, or exposing thefluid to a condition that potentially changes a characteristic of thefluid in some way. In other cases, product quality of the fluid may beobtained by identifying and quantifying the concentration of knownmicrobiological species that may be present in the fluid. In yet otherembodiments, the optical computing devices can be used to detect andquantify a more general common substance for a set of microbiologicalspecies, such as biofilm, for a more general indication of the productquality of the fluid.

As used herein, the term “fluid” refers to any substance that is capableof flowing, including particulate solids, liquids, gases, slurries,emulsions, powders, muds, glasses, combinations thereof, and the like.In some embodiments, the fluid can be an aqueous fluid, including liquidfuel, water, or the like. In some embodiments, the fluid can be anon-aqueous fluid, including organic compounds, more specifically,hydrocarbons, oil, a refined component of oil, petrochemical products,and the like. In some embodiments, the fluid can be a treatment fluid ora formation fluid as found in the oil and gas industry. Fluids caninclude various flowable mixtures of solids, liquids and/or gases.Illustrative gases that can be considered fluids according to thepresent embodiments include, for example, air, nitrogen, carbon dioxide,argon, helium, thiophene, methane, ethane, butane, and other hydrocarbongases, combinations thereof and/or the like.

As used herein, the term “characteristic” refers to a chemical,mechanical, or physical property of a substance, such as a fluid or amicroorganism present within the fluid. A characteristic of a substancemay include a quantitative value of one or more chemical componentstherein. Such chemical components may be referred to herein as“analytes.” Illustrative characteristics of a substance that can bemonitored with the optical computing devices disclosed herein caninclude, for example, chemical composition (e.g., identity andconcentration in total or of individual components), impurity content,pH, viscosity, density, ionic strength, total dissolved solids, saltcontent, porosity, opacity, bacteria content, combinations thereof, andthe like. Moreover, the phrase “characteristic of interest of/in afluid” may be used herein to refer to the characteristic of a substancecontained in or otherwise flowing with the fluid.

As used herein, the term “flow path” refers to a route through which afluid is capable of being transported between two or more points. Insome cases, the flow path need not be continuous or otherwise contiguousbetween the two points. Exemplary flow paths include, but are notlimited to, a flowline, a pipeline, a hose, a process facility, astorage vessel, a tanker, a railway tank car, a transport ship orvessel, a trough, a stream, a sewer, a subterranean formation, etc.,combinations thereof, or the like. In cases where the flow path is apipeline, or the like, the pipeline may be a pre-commissioned pipelineor an operational pipeline. In other cases, the flow path may be createdor generated via movement of an optical computing device through a fluid(e.g., an open air sensor). In yet other cases, the flow path is notnecessarily contained within any rigid structure, but may refer to thepath fluid takes between two points, such as where a fluid flows fromone location to another without being contained, per se. It should benoted that the term “flow path” does not necessarily imply that a fluidis flowing therein, rather that a fluid is capable of being transportedor otherwise flowable therethrough.

As used herein, the term “microorganism” refers to a unicellular ormulti-cellular microscopic or macroscopic life form. Microorganisms mayinclude, but are not limited to, bacteria, protobacteria, protozoa,phytoplankton, viruses, fungi, algae, oomycetes, parasites, nematodes,and any combination thereof. Particular classes of bacteria that may beof interest include, for example, gram-positive and gram-negativebacteria, aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, sulfate-reducing bacteria,nitrate-reducing bacteria, or any combination thereof. In someembodiments, bacteria of genera such as, for example, Y-proteobacteria,α-proteobacteria, δ-proteobacteria, Clostridia, Methanohalophilus,Methanoplanus, Methanolobus, Methanocalculus, Methanosarcinaceae,Halanaerobium, Desulfobacter, Marinobacter, Halothiobacillus, andFusibacter may be detected and analyzed by the techniques describedherein. In more specific embodiments, bacteria of interest in theoilfield industry that may be detected and analyzed using the systemsand methods described herein include, for example, Desulfovibriodesulfuricans, Desulfovibrio vulgaris, Desulfosarcina variabilis,Desulfobacter hydrogenophilus, Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus, Myxococcusxanthus, Bacillus subtilis, Methanococcus vannielii, P. aeruginosa,Micrococcus luteus, Desulfovibrio vulgaris, and Clostridium butyricum.Other bacterial that may be monitored or analyzed may include e-coli andother food/water contaminants, and pathogenic bacteria, such asStreptococcus, Pseudomonas, Shigella, Campylobacter, Salmonella,Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Burkholderia cenocepacia, andMycobacterium avium. It is to be recognized that some microorganisms maybe large enough to be seen with the naked eye.

The term “microorganism” may also refer to any microbiological species,strains, or substance known to those skilled in the art. For example, insome cases, the term microorganism may refer to a microbiologicalsubstance secreted or otherwise produced by a microorganism.Microbiological substances that may be considered microorganismsinclude, but are not limited to, plasma, cells, prions, proteins,lipids, any derivative thereof, and the like. The terms “microbiologicaltreatment” and “anti-microbiological treatment” are used hereininterchangeably and refer to treatments that either reduce or cultivatea population of microorganisms or microbiological substances.

As used herein, the term “viable microorganism” refers to amicroorganism that is substantially unaltered from its native state andis capable of normal metabolic activity, including reproduction.

As used herein, the term “non-viable microorganism” refers to amicroorganism that is no longer metabolically active. In someembodiments, non-viable microorganisms may refer to microorganisms thathave had their cell wall ruptured, degraded, or modified by exposure toa degradative agent, such as an anti-bacterial treatment.

As used herein, the term “inactivated microorganism” refers to amicroorganism that has been altered from its native state and is nolonger capable of reproducing. The alteration that generates inactivatedmicroorganisms may be temporary or permanent. Permanent alterations mayinclude nucleic acid mutations, for example. Temporary alterations mayinclude, for example, environmental conditions (e.g., temperature orlack of an appropriate nutrient source) that impact the microorganism'sability to reproduce or otherwise perform normal metabolic functions,but from which the microorganism may recover once returned to morefavorable conditions.

As used herein, the term “electromagnetic radiation” refers to radiowaves, microwave radiation, infrared and near-infrared radiation,visible light, ultraviolet light, X-ray radiation and gamma rayradiation.

As used herein, the terms “real-time” and “near real-time” refer to ananalysis of a substance that takes place in substantially the same timeframe as the interrogation of the substance with electromagneticradiation.

As used herein, the term “optical computing device” refers to an opticaldevice that is configured to receive an input of electromagneticradiation from a fluid, or a microorganism present within the fluid, andproduce an output of electromagnetic radiation from a processing elementarranged within the optical computing device. The processing element maybe, for example, an integrated computational element (ICE) used in theoptical computing device. As discussed in greater detail below, theelectromagnetic radiation that optically interacts with the processingelement is changed so as to be readable by a detector, such that anoutput of the detector can be correlated to at least one microorganismmeasured or monitored within the fluid. The output of electromagneticradiation from the processing element can be reflected electromagneticradiation, transmitted electromagnetic radiation, and/or dispersedelectromagnetic radiation. The structural parameters of the opticalcomputing device, as well as other considerations known to those skilledin the art, may dictate whether reflected, transmitted, or dispersedelectromagnetic radiation is eventually analyzed by the detector. Inaddition, emission and/or scattering of the substance, for example viafluorescence, luminescence, Raman scattering, and/or Raleigh scattering,can also be monitored by the optical computing devices.

As used herein, the term “optically interact” or variations thereofrefers to the reflection, transmission, scattering, diffraction, orabsorption of electromagnetic radiation either on, through, or from oneor more processing elements (i.e., integrated computational elements).Accordingly, optically interacted light refers to light that has beenreflected, transmitted, scattered, diffracted, or absorbed by, emitted,or re-radiated, for example, using the integrated computationalelements, but may also apply to interaction with a fluid or amicroorganism within the fluid.

As disclosed in commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/204,294, filed on Aug. 5, 2011 and incorporated herein by referencein its entirety, one or more integrated computational elements may beused to rapidly detect and analyze particular types of bacteria,including whether the bacteria are living or dead. Those techniques maybe extended to other types of microorganisms, as discussed hereinafter.Microorganism analyses may be conducted using one or more integratedcomputational elements much more rapidly than with conventionalbiological assays. The rapidity by which integrated computationalelements may perform analyses is advantageous for a number ofapplications, and it is particularly advantageous for analyses ofbiological materials, including microorganisms.

Specifically, the integrated computational elements may be used toassess the degree to which microorganisms, classes of microorganisms, orother microbiological substances have been rendered non-viable by amicrobiological treatment (e.g., anti-microbiological treatment) whichmay kill or otherwise render non-viable microorganisms. Differentiationbetween viable microorganisms and non-viable microorganisms may bedetermined readily using one or more integrated computational elements,as described herein. Moreover, due to the rapidity at which integratedcomputational elements may provide information about a population ofmicroorganisms, they may be used advantageously for conducting real-timeor near real-time biological analyses, thereby satisfying an unmet needin the art. Furthermore, they may be used to follow and proactivelymanage the progress of a biological remediation operation (e.g., amicrobiological treatment) in real-time or near-real time, therebyimproving its effectiveness. For example, if an analysis indicates thatunacceptably high levels of viable microorganisms remain in a fluidduring or following a biological remediation operation, the operationalparameters associated with the remediation may be altered in an attemptto increase the treatment effectiveness. Conventional microorganismassay techniques, in contrast, are simply too slow to allow proactivemanagement of biological remediation operations to take place.

The exemplary systems and methods described herein include at least oneoptical computing device arranged along or within a flow path in orderto monitor a fluid flowing or otherwise contained therein. Each opticalcomputing device may include an electromagnetic radiation source, atleast one processing element (e.g., integrated computational elements),and at least one detector arranged to receive optically interacted lightfrom the at least one processing element. As disclosed below, however,in at least one embodiment, the electromagnetic radiation source may beomitted and instead the electromagnetic radiation may be derived fromthe fluid or microorganism itself. In some embodiments, the exemplaryoptical computing devices may be specifically configured for detecting,analyzing, and quantitatively measuring a particular characteristic oranalyte of interest of the fluid in the flow path. In other embodiments,the optical computing devices may be general purpose optical devices,with post-acquisition processing (e.g., through computer means) beingused to specifically detect the characteristic of the sample.

In some embodiments, suitable structural components for the exemplaryoptical computing devices are described in commonly owned U.S. Pat. Nos.6,198,531; 6,529,276; 7,123,844; 7,834,999; 7,911,605, 7,920,258, and8,049,881, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety, and U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 12/094,460; 12/094,465;and 13/456,467, each of which is also incorporated herein by referencein its entirety. As will be appreciated, variations of the structuralcomponents of the optical computing devices described in theabove-referenced patents and patent applications may be suitable,without departing from the scope of the disclosure, and therefore,should not be considered limiting to the various embodiments or usesdisclosed herein.

The optical computing devices described in the foregoing patents andpatent applications combine the advantage of the power, precision andaccuracy associated with laboratory spectrometers, while being extremelyrugged and suitable for field use. Furthermore, the optical computingdevices can perform calculations (analyses) in real-time or nearreal-time without the need for time-consuming sample processing. In thisregard, the optical computing devices can be specifically configured todetect and analyze particular characteristics, microorganisms, and/oranalytes of interest of a fluid. As a result, interfering signals arediscriminated from those of interest in the fluid by appropriateconfiguration of the optical computing devices, such that the opticalcomputing devices provide a rapid response regarding the characteristicsof the fluid as based on the detected output. In some embodiments, thedetected output can be converted into a voltage that is distinctive ofthe magnitude of the characteristic or microorganism being monitored inthe fluid. The foregoing advantages and others make the opticalcomputing devices particularly well suited for field and downhole use,but may equally be applied to several other technologies or industries,without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

The optical computing devices can be configured to detect not only thecomposition and concentrations of a microorganism in a fluid, but theyalso can be configured to determine physical properties and othercharacteristics of the microorganism as well, based on their analysis ofthe electromagnetic radiation received from the particularmicroorganism. For example, the optical computing devices can beconfigured to determine whether the detected microorganism is viable,non-viable, or inactivated. As will be appreciated, the opticalcomputing devices may be configured to detect as many microorganisms oras many characteristics or analytes of the microorganism as desired inthe fluid. All that is required to accomplish the monitoring of multiplecharacteristics and/or microorganisms is the incorporation of suitableprocessing and detection means within the optical computing device foreach microorganism and/or characteristic. In some embodiments, theproperties of the characteristic can be a combination of the propertiesof the analytes therein (e.g., a linear, non-linear, logarithmic, and/orexponential combination). Accordingly, the more analytes that aredetected and analyzed using the optical computing devices, the moreaccurately the properties of the given characteristic will bedetermined.

The optical computing devices described herein utilize electromagneticradiation to perform calculations, as opposed to the hardwired circuitsof conventional electronic processors. When electromagnetic radiationinteracts with a fluid, or a microorganism present therein, uniquephysical and chemical information about the fluid or microorganism maybe encoded in the electromagnetic radiation that is reflected from,transmitted through, or radiated from the substance. This information isoften referred to as the spectral “fingerprint” of the fluid ormicroorganism. The optical computing devices described herein arecapable of extracting the information of the spectral fingerprint ofmultiple characteristics or analytes within a fluid, and converting thatinformation into a detectable output regarding the overall properties ofthe fluid, including the concentration and contents of microorganisms.That is, through suitable configurations of the optical computingdevices, electromagnetic radiation associated with a characteristic oranalyte of interest of a fluid or a microorganism present therein can beseparated from electromagnetic radiation associated with all othercomponents of the fluid in order to estimate the properties of themicroorganism in real-time or near real-time.

The processing elements used in the exemplary optical computing devicesdescribed herein may be characterized as integrated computationalelements (ICE). Each ICE is capable of distinguishing electromagneticradiation related to the characteristic or microorganism of interestfrom electromagnetic radiation related to other components of a fluid.Referring to FIG. 1, illustrated is an exemplary ICE 100 suitable foruse in the optical computing devices used in the systems and methodsdescribed herein. As illustrated, the ICE 100 may include a plurality ofalternating layers 102 and 104, such as silicon (Si) and SiO₂ (quartz),respectively. In general, these layers 102, 104 consist of materialswhose index of refraction is high and low, respectively. Other examplesmight include niobia and niobium, germanium and germania, MgF, SiO, andother high and low index materials known in the art. The layers 102, 104may be strategically deposited on an optical substrate 106. In someembodiments, the optical substrate 106 is BK-7 optical glass. In otherembodiments, the optical substrate 106 may be another type of opticalsubstrate, such as quartz, sapphire, silicon, germanium, zinc selenide,zinc sulfide, or various plastics such as polycarbonate,polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polyvinylchloride (PVC), diamond,ceramics, combinations thereof, and the like.

At the opposite end (e.g., opposite the optical substrate 106 in FIG.1), the ICE 100 may include a layer 108 that is generally exposed to theenvironment of the device or installation. The number of layers 102, 104and the thickness of each layer 102, 104 are determined from thespectral attributes acquired from a spectroscopic analysis of a specificcharacteristic of interest using a conventional spectroscopicinstrument. The spectrum of interest for a given characteristictypically includes any number of different wavelengths. It should beunderstood that the exemplary ICE 100 in FIG. 1 does not in factrepresent any particular characteristic of interest, but is provided forpurposes of illustration only. Consequently, the number of layers 102,104 and their relative thicknesses, as shown in FIG. 1, bear nocorrelation to any particular characteristic of interest. Nor are thelayers 102, 104 and their relative thicknesses necessarily drawn toscale, and therefore should not be considered limiting of the presentdisclosure.

Moreover, those skilled in the art will readily recognize that thematerials that make up each layer 102, 104 (i.e., Si and SiO₂) may vary,depending on the application, cost of materials, and/or applicability ofthe material to the given characteristic.

In some embodiments, the material of each layer 102, 104 can be doped ortwo or more materials can be combined in a manner to achieve the desiredoptical characteristic. In addition to solids, the exemplary ICE 100 mayalso contain liquids and/or gases, optionally in combination withsolids, in order to produce a desired optical characteristic. In thecase of gases and liquids, the ICE 100 can contain a correspondingvessel (not shown), which houses the gases or liquids. Exemplaryvariations of the ICE 100 may also include holographic optical elements,gratings, piezoelectric, light pipe, digital light pipe (DLP), and/oracousto-optic elements, for example, that can create transmission,reflection, and/or absorptive properties of interest.

The multiple layers 102, 104 exhibit different refractive indices. Byproperly selecting the materials of the layers 102, 104 and theirrelative thickness and spacing, the ICE 100 may be configured toselectively pass/reflect/refract predetermined fractions ofelectromagnetic radiation at different wavelengths. Each wavelength isgiven a predetermined weighting or loading factor. The thickness andspacing of the layers 102, 104 may be determined using a variety ofapproximation methods from the spectrograph of the characteristic oranalyte of interest. These methods may include inverse Fourier transform(IFT) of the optical transmission spectrum and structuring the ICE 100as the physical representation of the IFT. The approximations convertthe IFT into a structure based on known materials with constantrefractive indices. Further information regarding the structures anddesign of exemplary integrated computational elements (also referred toas multivariate optical elements) is provided in Applied Optics, Vol.35, pp. 5484-5492 (1996) and Vol. 129, pp. 2876-2893, which is herebyincorporated by reference.

The weightings that the layers 102, 104 of the ICE 100 apply at eachwavelength are set to the regression weightings described with respectto a known equation, or data, or spectral signature. Briefly, the ICE100 may be configured to perform the dot product of the input light beaminto the ICE 100 and a desired loaded regression vector represented byeach layer 102, 104 for each wavelength. As a result, the output lightintensity of the ICE 100 is related to the characteristic or analyte ofinterest. Further details regarding how the exemplary ICE 100 is able todistinguish and process electromagnetic radiation related to thecharacteristic or analyte of interest are described in U.S. Pat. Nos.6,198,531; 6,529,276; and 7,920,258, previously incorporated herein byreference.

Referring now to FIG. 2, illustrated is a block diagram thatnon-mechanistically illustrates how an optical computing device 200 isable to distinguish electromagnetic radiation related to acharacteristic of a fluid or a microorganism present therein from otherelectromagnetic radiation. As shown in FIG. 2, after being illuminatedwith incident electromagnetic radiation, a fluid 202 containing amicroorganism (e.g., a characteristic of interest) produces an output ofelectromagnetic radiation (e.g., sample-interacted light), some of whichis electromagnetic radiation 204 corresponding to the microorganism andsome of which is background electromagnetic radiation 206 correspondingto other components or characteristics of the fluid 202.

Although not specifically shown, one or more spectral elements may beemployed in the device 200 in order to restrict the optical wavelengthsand/or bandwidths of the system and thereby eliminate unwantedelectromagnetic radiation existing in wavelength regions that have noimportance. Such spectral elements can be located anywhere along theoptical train, but are typically employed directly after the lightsource, which provides the initial electromagnetic radiation. Variousconfigurations and applications of spectral elements in opticalcomputing devices may be found in commonly owned U.S. Pat. Nos.6,198,531; 6,529,276; 7,123,844; 7,834,999; 7,911,605, 7,920,258,8,049,881, and U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 12/094,460 (U.S. Pat.App. Pub. No. 2009/0219538); Ser. No. 12/094,465 (U.S. Pat. App. Pub.No. 2009/0219539); and Ser. No. 13/456,467, incorporated herein byreference, as indicated above.

The beams of electromagnetic radiation 204, 206 impinge upon the opticalcomputing device 200, which contains an exemplary ICE 208 therein. Inthe illustrated embodiment, the ICE 208 may be configured to produceoptically interacted light, for example, transmitted opticallyinteracted light 210 and reflected optically interacted light 214. Inoperation, the ICE 208 may be configured to distinguish theelectromagnetic radiation 204 from the background electromagneticradiation 206.

The transmitted optically interacted light 210, which may be related tothe microorganism or another characteristic of interest in the fluid202, may be conveyed to a detector 212 for analysis and quantification.In some embodiments, the detector 212 is configured to produce an outputsignal in the form of a voltage that corresponds to the particularcharacteristic being monitored in the fluid 202. In at least oneembodiment, the signal produced by the detector 212 and theconcentration of the characteristic of the fluid 202 may be directlyproportional. In other embodiments, the relationship may be a polynomialfunction, an exponential function, and/or a logarithmic function. Thereflected optically interacted light 214, which may be related tocharacteristics of other components of the fluid 202, can be directedaway from detector 212. In alternative configurations, the ICE 208 maybe configured such that the reflected optically interacted light 214 canbe related to the characteristic of interest (e.g., concentration of amicroorganism), and the transmitted optically interacted light 210 canbe related to other components or characteristics of the fluid 202.

In some embodiments, a second detector 216 can be present and arrangedto detect the reflected optically interacted light 214. In otherembodiments, the second detector 216 may be arranged to detect theelectromagnetic radiation 204, 206 derived from the fluid 202 orelectromagnetic radiation directed toward or before the fluid 202.Without limitation, the second detector 216 may be used to detectradiating deviations stemming from an electromagnetic radiation source(not shown), which provides the electromagnetic radiation (i.e., light)to the device 200. For example, radiating deviations can include suchthings as, but not limited to, intensity fluctuations in theelectromagnetic radiation, interferent fluctuations (e.g., dust or otherinterferents passing in front of the electromagnetic radiation source),coatings on windows included with the optical computing device 200,combinations thereof, or the like. In some embodiments, a beam splitter(not shown) can be employed to split the electromagnetic radiation 204,206, and the transmitted or reflected electromagnetic radiation can thenbe directed to one or more ICE 208. That is, in such embodiments, theICE 208 does not function as a type of beam splitter, as depicted inFIG. 2, and the transmitted or reflected electromagnetic radiationsimply passes through the ICE 208, being computationally processedtherein, before travelling to the detector 212.

The characteristic(s) of the fluid 202 being analyzed using the opticalcomputing device 200 can be further processed computationally to provideadditional characterization information about the fluid 202. In someembodiments, the identification and concentration of each analyte ormicroorganism in the fluid 202 can be used to predict certain physicalcharacteristics of the fluid 202. For example, the bulk characteristicsof a fluid 202 can be estimated by using a combination of the propertiesconferred to the fluid 202 by each analyte or microorganism.

In some embodiments, the concentration of each microorganism or themagnitude of each characteristic determined using the optical computingdevice 200 can be fed into an algorithm operating under computercontrol. The algorithm may be configured to make predictions on how thecharacteristics of the fluid 202 change if the concentrations of themicroorganisms or analytes are changed relative to one another. In someembodiments, the algorithm can produce an output that is readable by anoperator who can manually take appropriate action, if needed, based uponthe output. In some embodiments, the algorithm can take proactiveprocess control by automatically adjusting the flow of a treatmentsubstance (e.g., anti-bacterial or microbiological treatment) beingintroduced into a flow path or by halting the introduction of thetreatment substance in response to an out of range condition.

The algorithm can be part of an artificial neural network configured touse the concentration of each detected characteristic or microorganismin order to evaluate the overall characteristic(s) of the fluid 202 andpredict how to modify the fluid 202 in order to alter its properties ina desired way. Illustrative but non-limiting artificial neural networksare described in commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/986,763 (U.S. Patent App. Pub. No. 2009/0182693), which isincorporated herein by reference. It is to be recognized that anartificial neural network can be trained using samples ofcharacteristics or microorganisms having known concentrations,compositions, and/or properties, and thereby generating a virtuallibrary. As the virtual library available to the artificial neuralnetwork becomes larger, the neural network can become more capable ofaccurately predicting the characteristics of a fluid having any numberof microorganisms or analytes present therein. Furthermore, withsufficient training, the artificial neural network can more accuratelypredict the characteristics of the fluid, even in the presence ofunknown microorganisms.

It is recognized that the various embodiments herein directed tocomputer control and artificial neural networks, including variousblocks, modules, elements, components, methods, and algorithms, can beimplemented using computer hardware, software, combinations thereof, andthe like. To illustrate this interchangeability of hardware andsoftware, various illustrative blocks, modules, elements, components,methods and algorithms have been described generally in terms of theirfunctionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware orsoftware will depend upon the particular application and any imposeddesign constraints. For at least this reason, it is to be recognizedthat one of ordinary skill in the art can implement the describedfunctionality in a variety of ways for a particular application.Further, various components and blocks can be arranged in a differentorder or partitioned differently, for example, without departing fromthe scope of the embodiments expressly described.

Computer hardware used to implement the various illustrative blocks,modules, elements, components, methods, and algorithms described hereincan include a processor configured to execute one or more sequences ofinstructions, programming stances, or code stored on a non-transitory,computer-readable medium. The processor can be, for example, a generalpurpose microprocessor, a microcontroller, a digital signal processor,an application specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gatearray, a programmable logic device, a controller, a state machine, agated logic, discrete hardware components, an artificial neural network,or any like suitable entity that can perform calculations or othermanipulations of data. In some embodiments, computer hardware canfurther include elements such as, for example, a memory (e.g., randomaccess memory (RAM), flash memory, read only memory (ROM), programmableread only memory (PROM), erasable read only memory (EPROM)), registers,hard disks, removable disks, CD-ROMS, DVDs, or any other like suitablestorage device or medium.

Executable sequences described herein can be implemented with one ormore sequences of code contained in a memory. In some embodiments, suchcode can be read into the memory from another machine-readable medium.Execution of the sequences of instructions contained in the memory cancause a processor to perform the process steps described herein. One ormore processors in a multi-processing arrangement can also be employedto execute instruction sequences in the memory. In addition, hard-wiredcircuitry can be used in place of or in combination with softwareinstructions to implement various embodiments described herein. Thus,the present embodiments are not limited to any specific combination ofhardware and/or software.

As used herein, a machine-readable medium will refer to any medium thatdirectly or indirectly provides instructions to a processor forexecution. A machine-readable medium can take on many forms including,for example, non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media.Non-volatile media can include, for example, optical and magnetic disks.Volatile media can include, for example, dynamic memory. Transmissionmedia can include, for example, coaxial cables, wire, fiber optics, andwires that form a bus. Common forms of machine-readable media caninclude, for example, floppy disks, flexible disks, hard disks, magnetictapes, other like magnetic media, CD-ROMs, DVDs, other like opticalmedia, punch cards, paper tapes and like physical media with patternedholes, RAM, ROM, PROM, EPROM and flash EPROM.

In some embodiments, the data collected using the optical computingdevices can be archived along with data associated with operationalparameters being logged at a job site. Evaluation of job performance canthen be assessed and improved for future operations or such informationcan be used to design subsequent operations. In addition, the data andinformation can be communicated (wired or wirelessly) to a remotelocation by a communication system (e.g., satellite communication orwide area network communication) for further analysis. The communicationsystem can also allow remote monitoring and operation of a process totake place. Automated control with a long-range communication system canfurther facilitate the performance of remote job operations. Inparticular, an artificial neural network can be used in some embodimentsto facilitate the performance of remote job operations. That is, remotejob operations can be conducted automatically in some embodiments. Inother embodiments, however, remote job operations can occur under directoperator control, where the operator is not at the job site.

Referring now to FIG. 3, illustrated is an exemplary system 300 formonitoring a fluid 302 containing one or more microorganisms, accordingto one or more embodiments. In the illustrated embodiment, the fluid 302may be contained or otherwise flowing within an exemplary flow path 304.The flow path 304 may be a flow line or a pipeline and the fluid 302present therein may be flowing in the general direction indicated by thearrows A (i.e., from upstream to downstream). As will be appreciated,however, the flow path 304 may be any other type of flow path, asgenerally described or otherwise defined herein. For example, the flowpath 304 may be a containment or storage vessel and the fluid 302 maynot necessarily be flowing (i.e., moving) in the direction A while thefluid 302 is being monitored.

In at least one embodiment, however, the flow path 304 may form part ofan oil/gas pipeline and may be part of a wellhead or a plurality ofsubsea and/or above-ground interconnecting flow lines or pipes thatinterconnect various subterranean hydrocarbon reservoirs with one ormore receiving/gathering platforms or process facilities. In someembodiments, portions of the flow path 304 may be employed downhole andfluidly connect, for example, a formation and a wellhead. As such,portions of the flow path 304 may be arranged substantially vertical,substantially horizontal, or any directional configuration therebetween,without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

The system 300 may include at least one optical computing device 306,which may be similar in some respects to the optical computing device200 of FIG. 2, and therefore may be best understood with referencethereto. While not shown, the optical computing device 306 may be housedwithin a casing or housing configured to substantially protect theinternal components of the device 306 from damage or contamination fromthe external environment. The housing may operate to mechanically couplethe device 306 to the flow path 304 with, for example, mechanicalfasteners, brazing or welding techniques, adhesives, magnets,combinations thereof or the like. In operation, the housing may bedesigned to withstand the pressures that may be experienced within orwithout the flow path 304 and thereby provide a fluid tight seal againstexternal contamination. As described in greater detail below, theoptical computing device 306 may be useful in determining a particularcharacteristic of the fluid 302 within the flow path 304, such asdetermining a concentration of a microorganism (viable or non-viable)present within the fluid 302. Knowing the concentration ofmicroorganisms may help determine the overall quality of the fluid 302and provide an opportunity to remedy potentially undesirable levels ofmicroorganisms in the fluid 302.

The device 306 may include an electromagnetic radiation source 308configured to emit or otherwise generate electromagnetic radiation 310.The electromagnetic radiation source 308 may be any device capable ofemitting or generating electromagnetic radiation, as defined herein. Forexample, the electromagnetic radiation source 308 may be a light bulb, alight emitting device (LED), a laser, a blackbody, a blackbodysimulator, a photonic crystal, an X-Ray source, combinations thereof, orthe like. In some embodiments, a lens 312 may be configured to collector otherwise receive the electromagnetic radiation 310 and direct a beam314 of electromagnetic radiation 310 toward the fluid 302. The lens 312may be any type of optical device configured to transmit or otherwiseconvey the electromagnetic radiation 310 as desired. For example, thelens 312 may be a normal lens, a Fresnel lens, a diffractive opticalelement, a holographic graphical element, a mirror (e.g., a focusingmirror), a type of collimator, or any other electromagnetic radiationtransmitting device known to those skilled in art. In other embodiments,the lens 312 may be omitted from the device 306 and the electromagneticradiation 310 may instead be directed toward the fluid 302 directly fromthe electromagnetic radiation source 308.

In one or more embodiments, the device 306 may also include a samplingwindow 316 arranged adjacent to or otherwise in contact with the fluid302 for detection purposes. The sampling window 316 may be made from avariety of transparent, rigid or semi-rigid materials that areconfigured to allow transmission of the electromagnetic radiation 310therethrough. For example, the sampling window 316 may be made of, butis not limited to, glasses, plastics, semi-conductors, crystallinematerials, polycrystalline materials, hot or cold-pressed powders,combinations thereof, or the like. In order to remove ghosting or otherimaging issues resulting from reflectance on the sampling window 316,the system 300 may employ one or more internal reflectance elements(IRE), such as those described in co-owned U.S. Pat. No. 7,697,141,and/or one or more imaging systems, such as those described in co-ownedU.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/456,467, the contents of each herebybeing incorporated by reference.

After passing through the sampling window 316, the electromagneticradiation 310 impinges upon and optically interacts with the fluid 302,including any microorganisms present within the fluid 302. As a result,optically interacted radiation 318 is generated by and reflected fromthe fluid 302. Those skilled in the art, however, will readily recognizethat alternative variations of the device 306 may allow the opticallyinteracted radiation 318 to be generated by being transmitted,scattered, diffracted, absorbed, emitted, or re-radiated by and/or fromthe fluid 302, or one or more microorganisms present within the fluid302, without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

The optically interacted radiation 318 generated by the interaction withthe fluid 302, and/or at least one microorganism present therein, may bedirected to or otherwise be received by an ICE 320 arranged within thedevice 306. The ICE 320 may be a spectral component substantiallysimilar to the ICE 100 described above with reference to FIG. 1.Accordingly, in operation the ICE 320 may be configured to receive theoptically interacted radiation 318 and produce modified electromagneticradiation 322 corresponding to a particular characteristic of interestin the fluid 302, including any microorganisms that may be presenttherein. In particular, the modified electromagnetic radiation 322 iselectromagnetic radiation that has optically interacted with the ICE320, whereby an approximate mimicking of the regression vectorcorresponding to the characteristic or microorganism in the fluid 302 isobtained.

It should be noted that, while FIG. 3 depicts the ICE 320 as receivingreflected electromagnetic radiation from the fluid 302, the ICE 320 maybe arranged at any point along the optical train of the device 306,without departing from the scope of the disclosure. For example, in oneor more embodiments, the ICE 320 (as shown in dashed) may be arrangedwithin the optical train prior to the sampling window 316 and equallyobtain substantially the same results. In other embodiments, thesampling window 316 may serve a dual purpose as both a transmissionwindow and the ICE 320 (i.e., a spectral component). In yet otherembodiments, the ICE 320 may optically interact with the fluid 302 orelectromagnetic radiation 310 to generate the modified electromagneticradiation 322 through reflection, instead of transmission therethrough.

Moreover, while only one ICE 320 is shown in the device 306, embodimentsare contemplated herein which include the use of at least two ICEcomponents in the device 306 configured to cooperatively determine thecharacteristic of interest in the fluid 302 or a microorganism presenttherein. For example, two or more ICE may be arranged in series orparallel within the device 306 and configured to receive the opticallyinteracted radiation 318 and thereby enhance sensitivities and detectorlimits of the device 306. In other embodiments, two or more ICE may bearranged on a movable assembly, such as a rotating disc or anoscillating linear array, which moves such that the individual ICEcomponents are able to be exposed to or otherwise optically interactwith electromagnetic radiation for a distinct brief period of time. Thetwo or more ICE components in any of these embodiments may be configuredto be either associated or disassociated with the characteristic ofinterest in the fluid 302 or a microorganism present therein. In otherembodiments, the two or more ICE may be configured to be positively ornegatively correlated with the characteristic of interest in the fluid302 or a microorganism present therein. These optional embodimentsemploying two or more ICE components are further described in co-pendingU.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 13/456,264, 13/456,405, 13/456,302,and 13/456,327, the contents of which are hereby incorporated byreference in their entireties.

In some embodiments, it may be desirable to monitor more than onecharacteristic of interest or microorganism at a time using the device306. In such embodiments, various configurations for multiple ICEcomponents can be used, where each ICE component is configured to detecta particular and/or distinct characteristic or microorganism ofinterest. In some embodiments, the characteristic or microorganism canbe analyzed sequentially using multiple ICE components that are provideda single beam of electromagnetic radiation being reflected from ortransmitted through the fluid 302. In some embodiments, as brieflymentioned above, multiple ICE components can be arranged on a rotatingdisc, where the individual ICE components are only exposed to the beamof electromagnetic radiation for a short time. Advantages of thisapproach can include the ability to analyze multiple characteristics ormicroorganisms within the fluid 302 using a single optical computingdevice and the opportunity to assay additional microorganisms simply byadding additional ICE components to the rotating disc.

In other embodiments, multiple optical computing devices can be placedat a single location along the flow path 304, where each opticalcomputing device contains a unique ICE that is configured to detect aparticular characteristic of interest in the fluid 302 or amicroorganism present therein. In such embodiments, a beam splitter candivert a portion of the electromagnetic radiation being reflected by,emitted from, or transmitted through the fluid 302 and into each opticalcomputing device. Each optical computing device, in turn, can be coupledto a corresponding detector or detector array that is configured todetect and analyze an output of electromagnetic radiation from therespective optical computing device. Parallel configurations of opticalcomputing devices can be particularly beneficial for applications thatrequire low power inputs and/or no moving parts.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that any of the foregoingconfigurations can further be used in combination with a seriesconfiguration in any of the present embodiments. For example, twooptical computing devices having a rotating disc with a plurality of ICEcomponents arranged thereon can be placed in series for performing ananalysis at a single location along the length of the flow path 304.Likewise, multiple detection stations, each containing optical computingdevices in parallel, can be placed in series for performing a similaranalysis.

The modified electromagnetic radiation 322 generated by the ICE 320 maysubsequently be conveyed to a detector 324 for quantification of thesignal. The detector 324 may be any device capable of detectingelectromagnetic radiation, and may be generally characterized as anoptical transducer. In some embodiments, the detector 324 may be, but isnot limited to, a thermal detector such as a thermopile or photoacousticdetector, a semiconductor detector, a piezoelectric detector, a chargecoupled device (CCD) detector, a video or array detector, a splitdetector, a photon detector (such as a photomultiplier tube),photodiodes, combinations thereof, or the like, or other detectors knownto those skilled in the art.

In some embodiments, the detector 324 may be configured to produce anoutput signal 326 in real-time or near real-time in the form of avoltage (or current) that corresponds to the particular characteristicof interest in the fluid 302 or a microorganism present therein. Thevoltage returned by the detector 324 is essentially the dot product ofthe optical interaction of the optically interacted radiation 318 withthe respective ICE 320 as a function of the concentration of thecharacteristic or microorganism of interest of the fluid 302. As such,the output signal 326 produced by the detector 324 and the concentrationof the characteristic of interest in the fluid 302 or a microorganismpresent therein may be related, for example, directly proportional. Inother embodiments, however, the relationship may correspond to apolynomial function, an exponential function, a logarithmic function,and/or a combination thereof.

In some embodiments, the device 306 may include a second detector 328,which may be similar to the first detector 324 in that it may be anydevice capable of detecting electromagnetic radiation. Similar to thesecond detector 216 of FIG. 2, the second detector 328 of FIG. 3 may beused to detect radiating deviations stemming from the electromagneticradiation source 308. Undesirable radiating deviations can occur in theintensity of the electromagnetic radiation 310 due to a wide variety ofreasons and potentially causing various negative effects on the device306. These negative effects can be particularly detrimental formeasurements taken over a period of time. In some embodiments, radiatingdeviations can occur as a result of a build-up of film or material onthe sampling window 316 which has the effect of reducing the amount andquality of light ultimately reaching the first detector 324. Withoutproper compensation, such radiating deviations could result in falsereadings and the output signal 326 would no longer be primarily oraccurately related to the characteristic or microorganism of interest.

To compensate for these types of undesirable effects, the seconddetector 328 may be configured to generate a compensating signal 330generally indicative of the radiating deviations of the electromagneticradiation source 308, and thereby normalize the output signal 326generated by the first detector 324. As illustrated, the second detector328 may be configured to receive a portion of the optically interactedradiation 318 via a beamsplitter 332 in order to detect the radiatingdeviations. In other embodiments, however, the second detector 328 maybe arranged to receive electromagnetic radiation from any portion of theoptical train in the device 306 in order to detect the radiatingdeviations, without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

In some applications, the output signal 326 and the compensating signal330 may be conveyed to or otherwise received by a signal processor 334communicably coupled to both the detectors 320, 328. The signalprocessor 334 may be a computer including a non-transitorymachine-readable medium, and may be configured to computationallycombine the compensating signal 330 with the output signal 326 in orderto normalize the output signal 326 in view of any radiating deviationsdetected by the second detector 328. In some embodiments,computationally combining the output and compensating signals 320, 328may entail computing a ratio of the two signals 320, 328. For example,the concentration of each microorganism or the magnitude of eachcharacteristic determined using the optical computing device 306 can befed into an algorithm run by the signal processor 334. The algorithm maybe configured to make predictions on how the characteristics of thefluid 302 change if the concentrations of the microorganisms are changedrelative to one another.

In real-time or near real-time, the signal processor 334 may beconfigured to provide a resulting output signal 336 corresponding to aconcentration of the characteristic of interest in the fluid 302 or amicroorganism present therein. The resulting output signal 336 may bereadable by an operator who can consider the results and make properadjustments or take appropriate action, if needed, based upon themeasured concentration of microorganisms in the fluid 302. In someembodiments, the resulting signal output 328 may be conveyed, eitherwired or wirelessly, to the user for consideration. In otherembodiments, the resulting output signal 336 may be recognized by thesignal processor 334 as being within or without a predetermined orpreprogrammed range of suitable operation.

For example, the signal processor 334 may be programmed with an impurityprofile corresponding to one or more microorganisms. The impurityprofile may be a measurement of a concentration or percentage ofmicroorganism within the fluid 302. In some embodiments, the impurityprofile may be measured in the parts per million range, but in otherembodiments, the impurity profile may be measured in the parts perthousand or billion range. If the resulting output signal 336 exceeds orotherwise falls without a predetermined or preprogrammed range ofoperation for the impurity profile, the signal processor 334 may beconfigured to alert the user of an excessive amount or percentage ofmicroorganism(s) so appropriate corrective or remedial action may betaken. In other embodiments, the signal processor 334 may be configuredto autonomously undertake the appropriate corrective/remedial actionsuch that the resulting output signal 336 returns to a value fallingwithin the predetermined or preprogrammed range of suitable operation.In some embodiments, the corrective action may include, but is notlimited to, adding a treatment substance (i.e., a biocide,anti-bacterial, or microbiological treatment) to the flow path 302,increasing or decreasing the fluid flow within the flow path 302,shutting off the fluid flow within the flow path 302, combinationsthereof, or the like.

Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate the various andnumerous applications that the system 300, and alternativeconfigurations thereof, may be suitably used with. For example, in oneor more embodiments the fluid 302 may be a hydrocarbon corresponding tothe oil and gas industry and conveyed through a flow path 304, such as apipeline or a flowline. The optical computing device 306 may beadvantageous in monitoring or otherwise quantifying the concentration ofone or more microorganisms present within the fluid 302. As recognizedby those skilled in the art, the most problematic microorganisms inhydrocarbon transport are those that attack the pipeline infrastructureby imparting a corrosive effect on the pipelines, such as sulfatereducing bacteria that create an extremely corrosive environment inpipelines. In some cases, the microorganisms within the fluid 302 mightnot adversely affect the current live fluid flow, but may have thepotential to infect other flowline systems or vessels if proper remedialcare is not undertaken. In such cases, the system 300 may be useful inpreventing the onset of pipeline degradation in downstream portions ofthe flow path 304.

In operation, the optical computing device 306 may optically interactwith the fluid 302 and/or the microorganisms present therein to providereal-time, accurate data with respect to the microbiologic status withinthe flow path 304, such that more specific corrective or remedialactions can be taken to prevent unnecessary pipeline damage or reservoircontamination. By knowing how infected the pipes or pipelines flowinginventory are with a particular microorganism, an anti-bacterial ormicrobiological treatment dosage may be administered that is tailoredfor the specific need. For instance, the device 306 may be configured todetect or otherwise monitor the amounts of sulfate reducing bacteria inthe flow path 304 or the amount of acid producing bacteria in the flowpath 304. When the concentration of such microorganisms surpasses apredetermined impurity profile or safe operational limit, the system 300may alert the operator of the need for a microbiological treatment.Following the microbiological treatment (i.e., any corrective orremedial action), the optical computing device 306 may be useful indetermining the effectiveness of the treatment, such as by providing theconcentration of viable, non-viable, or inactivated microorganismsremaining within the fluid 302. As will be appreciated, this may havethe effect of reducing the damaging effects of certain chemicals on theenvironment, and pipeline operators will experience reduced chemicalprocurement costs and chemical remediation costs.

In other embodiments, the fluid 302 may be a fuel, such as diesel or jetfuel, contained in a flow path 304, such as a pipeline or a storagevessel. The optical computing device 306 may be advantageous inmonitoring or otherwise quantifying the microbiological amount presentwithin the fluid 302. Some microorganisms, like bacteria and fungi, livein fuels like diesel and jet fuel. Some of these organisms create aslimy biofilm which, in turn, may potentially clog fuel systems. Thereare some factors that speed up microbiological formation, especiallywater in the fuel and temperature fluctuations. The time the fuel isstored may also present an important factor for the severity of theissue, as the microorganisms need time to establish a problematiccolony. In some cases it can take several months for the colonies to getto a problematic size.

The system 300 may be useful in quantifying the level of bacterialcontamination of the fuel in real-time. For instance, the opticalcomputing device 306 may be configured to quantify a specificmicrobiologic specie and/or strain that typically lives in the fuel todetermine if corrective/remedial (i.e., cleaning or dosing) actions arerequired, or otherwise if the fuel is usable or remains viable. In someembodiments, the system 300 may be installed on a handheld detectionapparatus that may be configured to optically interact with the fuel todetermine whether or not the fuel is useable. Such a handheld apparatusis described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______(Atty. Dock. No 2012-IP-058393U1; 086108-0657) entitled “HandheldCharacteristic Analyzer and Methods of Using the Same,” the contents ofwhich are hereby incorporated by reference to the extent notinconsistent with the present disclosure. In other embodiments, thesystem 300 may be permanently installed in the flow path 304 (e.g., apipeline or storage vessel) to provide real-time, constant fuelmonitoring capabilities.

In yet other embodiments, the fluid 302 may be water and the system 300may be advantageous in monitoring or otherwise quantifying themicrobiological amount present therein. For instance, water used insubterranean operations in the oil and gas industry can sometimes beobtained from a number of “dirty” water sources, having varying levelsof bacterial or other types of microorganism contamination therein.Although microorganism contamination may sometimes not be particularlyproblematic at ambient temperatures on the Earth's surface, once thewater is introduced into a more favorable growth environment,microorganism levels and their detrimental effects may rapidly increase.For example, when introduced into a warm subterranean environment, evenlow levels of microorganisms can multiply quickly and potentially leadto damage of a subterranean formation. Likewise, favorable growthconditions may sometimes be found in a pipeline or like fluid flow path.

Microorganisms may lead to biofouling of a subterranean surface orpipeline surfaces (internal and external). Anaerobic bacteria may beparticularly detrimental when introduced into a subterranean formationor a pipeline due to the hydrogen sulfide that is commonly producedtherefrom. Rapidly multiplying microorganisms and their metabolicbyproducts can quickly clog and corrode production tubulars, plugformation fractures, and/or produce hydrogen sulfide which represents ahealth hazard and can lead to completion failure and loss of production.Accordingly, it can be highly desirable to monitor microorganism levelsbefore and/or while conveying water to and from a subterraneanformation.

Water treatment equipment, such as Halliburton's CLEANSTREAM® service,can be used to treat the water before it is pumped into one or more flowpaths 304 (e.g., pipelines, flowlines, etc.). In operation, the system300 may be useful in documenting the effectiveness of the watertreatment, or otherwise determining the need for additional watertreatment. In particular, the optical computing device 306 may beconfigured to monitor and/or quantify a specific microbiologic specieand/or strain in the water. In some embodiments, the ICE 320 may beconfigured to detect and quantify viable microorganisms in the fluid302. In other embodiments, the ICE 320 may be configured to detect andquantify non-viable or inactivated microorganisms in the fluid 302. Inyet other embodiments, there may be multiple ICE 320 componentsconfigured to detect and quantify viable, non-viable, and/or inactivatedmicroorganisms in the fluid 302. This may prove advantageous inapplications such as pipe flushing or water injection operations. Inother applications, as will be appreciated, that system 300 may furtherbe useful in determining the quality of drinking water at locationsexhibiting sub-premium water sources.

In even further embodiments, the system 300 may be used to determine orotherwise quantify microbiologic content on solid surfaces. Asrecognized by those skilled in the art, solid surfaces are oftensusceptible to the growth of microorganisms thereon. One skilled in theart will further recognize that microorganism contamination upon asurface may result in a number of deleterious effects including, forexample, biofouling, permeability reduction, structural failure,corrosion, health hazards, and any combination thereof. Contamination bymicroorganisms can be particularly problematic in a pipeline or likefluid conduit or flow path, as noted above. In a pipeline or like fluidconduit, microorganisms can sometimes aggregate in joints, welds, seams,and the like, where they may significantly increase the risk ofstructural failure. As discussed above, anaerobic bacteria may beparticularly problematic in this regard due to the hydrogen sulfide thatthey produce as a metabolic byproduct. The system 300 described herein,however, and its multiple variations, may be used to monitor or detectmicroorganism contamination on such solid surfaces in order toproactively reduce its deleterious effects. For instance, the opticalcomputing device 306 may be configured to monitor and/or quantify aspecific microbiologic specie and/or strain that commonly develops onsolid surfaces.

Those skilled in the art will readily recognize that microorganisms aretypically niched to a habitat, meaning, they are often found inassociation with certain environmental characteristics includingconstraints of temperature, chemical, and biological conditions. Suchmicroorganisms will typically form symbiotic relationships with othermicro and macro organisms. Additionally, they tend to alter or controltheir environment such that they experience favorable reproductiveconditions. For example, yeast will exude identifiable traces, such asalcohols, which may be indicative of the presence of yeast. Accordingly,when one species or genus, or other related branch of microorganism, isidentified, it may often be inferred that there are others of the samespecies, genus, or other related branch present. Likewise, it may alsobe inferred that there are similar habitat microorganisms, especially ofa symbiotic nature. For instance, the presence of some sulfur-reducingbacteria may be indicative of the presence of either a larger class ofsulfur-reducing bacteria, or anaerobic bacteria. Such sulfur-reducingbacteria presence may in fact be inferred by the presence of sulfurproducts such as H₂S, which they are known to produce. Consequently, theanalysis of the presence, destruction, and inactivity of certainmicroorganisms may be deterministically representative of the presence,destruction, and inactivity other related microorganisms.

Accordingly, in even further embodiments, the system 300 may be used todetermine or otherwise quantify a particular microorganism by monitoringor analyzing traces of chemicals or microorganisms associated with themicroorganism of interest. In some embodiments, the microorganism ofinterest may be associated to a monitored/analyzed chemical ormicroorganism by virtue of habitat, including constraints oftemperature, chemical, and biological conditions. In other embodiments,the microorganism of interest may be associated to a monitored/analyzedchemical or microorganism by virtue of symbiosis, where the presence,destruction, and/or inactivity of a monitored microorganisms may bedeterministically representative of the presence, destruction, andinactivity of the microorganism of interest.

Referring now to FIG. 4, illustrated is another exemplary system 400 formonitoring a fluid 302, according to one or more embodiments. The system400 may be similar in some respects to the system 300 of FIG. 3, andtherefore may be best understood with reference thereto where likenumerals indicate like elements that will not be described again. Asillustrated, the optical computing device 306 may again be configured todetermine the concentration of a characteristic of interest in the fluid302 or a microorganism present therein as contained within the flow path304. Unlike the system 300 of FIG. 3, however, the optical computingdevice 306 in FIG. 4 may be configured to transmit the electromagneticradiation through the fluid 302 via a first sampling window 402 a and asecond sampling window 402 b arranged radially-opposite the firstsampling window 402 a. The first and second sampling windows 402 a,b maybe similar to the sampling window 316 described above in FIG. 3.

As the electromagnetic radiation 310 passes through the fluid 302 viathe first and second sampling windows 402 a,b, it optically interactswith the fluid 302 and at least one microorganism present therein.Optically interacted radiation 318 is subsequently directed to orotherwise received by the ICE 320 as arranged within the device 306. Itis again noted that, while FIG. 4 depicts the ICE 320 as receiving theoptically interacted radiation 318 as transmitted through the samplingwindows 402 a,b, the ICE 320 may equally be arranged at any point alongthe optical train of the device 306, without departing from the scope ofthe disclosure. For example, in one or more embodiments, the ICE 320 maybe arranged within the optical train prior to the first sampling window402 a and equally obtain substantially the same results. In otherembodiments, one or each of the first or second sampling windows 402 a,bmay serve a dual purpose as both a transmission window and the ICE 320(i.e., a spectral component). In yet other embodiments, the ICE 320 maygenerate the modified electromagnetic radiation 322 through reflection,instead of transmission therethrough. Moreover, as with the system 300of FIG. 3, embodiments are contemplated herein which include the use ofat least two ICE components in the device 306 configured tocooperatively determine the characteristic of interest in the fluid 302or a microorganism present therein.

The modified electromagnetic radiation 322 generated by the ICE 320 issubsequently conveyed to the detector 324 for quantification of thesignal and generation of the output signal 326 which corresponds to theparticular characteristic of interest in the fluid 302 or amicroorganism present therein. As with the system 300 of FIG. 3, thesystem 400 may also include the second detector 328 for detectingradiating deviations stemming from the electromagnetic radiation source308. As illustrated, the second detector 328 may be configured toreceive a portion of the optically interacted radiation 318 via thebeamsplitter 332 in order to detect the radiating deviations. In otherembodiments, however, the second detector 328 may be arranged to receiveelectromagnetic radiation from any portion of the optical train in thedevice 306 in order to detect the radiating deviations, withoutdeparting from the scope of the disclosure. The output signal 326 andthe compensating signal 330 may then be conveyed to or otherwisereceived by the signal processor 334 which may computationally combinethe two signals 330, 326 and provide in real-time or near real-time theresulting output signal 336 corresponding to the concentration of thecharacteristic of interest in the fluid 302 or a microorganism presenttherein.

Still referring to FIG. 4, with additional reference to FIG. 3, thoseskilled in the art will readily recognize that, in one or moreembodiments, electromagnetic radiation may be derived from the fluid 302itself, and otherwise derived independent of the electromagneticradiation source 308. For example, various substances naturally radiateelectromagnetic radiation that is able to optically interact with theICE 320. In some embodiments, for example, the fluid 302 or themicroorganism within the fluid 302 may be a blackbody radiatingsubstance configured to radiate heat that may optically interact withthe ICE 320. In other embodiments, the fluid 302 or the microorganismwithin the fluid 302 may be radioactive or chemo-luminescent and,therefore, radiate electromagnetic radiation that is able to opticallyinteract with the ICE 320. In yet other embodiments, the electromagneticradiation may be induced from the fluid 302 or the microorganism withinthe fluid 302 by being acted upon mechanically, magnetically,electrically, combinations thereof, or the like. For instance, in atleast one embodiment, a voltage may be placed across the fluid 302 orthe microorganism within the fluid 302 in order to induce theelectromagnetic radiation. As a result, embodiments are contemplatedherein where the electromagnetic radiation source 308 is omitted fromthe optical computing device 306.

It should also be noted that the various drawings provided herein arenot necessarily drawn to scale nor are they, strictly speaking, depictedas optically correct as understood by those skilled in optics. Instead,the drawings are merely illustrative in nature and used generally hereinin order to supplement understanding of the systems and methods providedherein. Indeed, while the drawings may not be optically accurate, theconceptual interpretations depicted therein accurately reflect theexemplary nature of the various embodiments disclosed.

Therefore, the present invention is well adapted to attain the ends andadvantages mentioned as well as those that are inherent therein. Theparticular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as thepresent invention may be modified and practiced in different butequivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having thebenefit of the teachings herein. Furthermore, no limitations areintended to the details of construction or design herein shown, otherthan as described in the claims below. It is therefore evident that theparticular illustrative embodiments disclosed above may be altered,combined, or modified and all such variations are considered within thescope and spirit of the present invention. The invention illustrativelydisclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any elementthat is not specifically disclosed herein and/or any optional elementdisclosed herein. While compositions and methods are described in termsof “comprising,” “containing,” or “including” various components orsteps, the compositions and methods can also “consist essentially of” or“consist of” the various components and steps. All numbers and rangesdisclosed above may vary by some amount. Whenever a numerical range witha lower limit and an upper limit is disclosed, any number and anyincluded range falling within the range is specifically disclosed. Inparticular, every range of values (of the form, “from about a to aboutb,” or, equivalently, “from approximately a to b,” or, equivalently,“from approximately a-b”) disclosed herein is to be understood to setforth every number and range encompassed within the broader range ofvalues. Also, the terms in the claims have their plain, ordinary meaningunless otherwise explicitly and clearly defined by the patentee.Moreover, the indefinite articles “a” or “an,” as used in the claims,are defined herein to mean one or more than one of the element that itintroduces. If there is any conflict in the usages of a word or term inthis specification and one or more patent or other documents that may beincorporated herein by reference, the definitions that are consistentwith this specification should be adopted.

1. A system, comprising: a flow path containing a fluid; at least one integrated computational element configured to optically interact with the fluid and at least one microorganism therein, thereby generating optically interacted light; and at least one detector arranged to receive the optically interacted light and generate an output signal corresponding to a characteristic of the fluid, the characteristic of the fluid comprising a property relating to the at least one microorganism.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the property relating to the at least one microorganism is a concentration of the at least one microorganism within the fluid.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one integrated computational element is configured to analyze the fluid for viable microorganisms within the fluid.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one integrated computational element is configured to analyze the fluid for non-viable microorganisms within the fluid.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises a fluid selected from the group consisting of a hydrocarbon, jet fuel, diesel fuel, water, combinations thereof, and any derivative thereof.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the flow path comprises a flow path selected from the group consisting of a flowline, a pipeline, a hose, a process facility, a storage vessel, a tanker, a railway tank car, a transport ship or vessel, a trough, a stream, a sewer, a subterranean formation, and combinations thereof.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one microorganism comprises a microorganism selected from the group consisting of bacteria, protobacteria, protozoa, phytoplankton, viruses, fungi, algae, microbiological substances, combinations thereof, and any derivative thereof.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the bacteria is a sulfate reducing bacteria.
 9. The system of claim 7, wherein the bacteria is aerobic or anaerobic.
 10. The system of claim 1, further comprising an electromagnetic radiation source configured to emit electromagnetic radiation that optically interacts with the fluid.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one detector is a first detector and the system further comprises a second detector arranged to detect electromagnetic radiation from the electromagnetic radiation source and thereby generate a compensating signal indicative of electromagnetic radiating deviations.
 12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a signal processor communicably coupled to the first and second detectors, the signal processor being configured to receive and computationally combine the output and compensating signals in order to normalize the output signal.
 13. The system of claim 1, wherein the concentration of the at least one microorganism within the fluid is a trace of the at least one microorganism associated with a microorganism of interest.
 14. A method of monitoring a fluid, comprising: containing the fluid within a flow path; optically interacting at least one integrated computational element with the fluid and at least one microorganism present within the fluid, thereby generating optically interacted light; receiving with at least one detector the optically interacted light; and generating with the at least one detector an output signal corresponding to a characteristic of the fluid, the characteristic of the fluid being a property relating to the at least one microorganism within the fluid.
 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising analyzing the fluid for viable microorganisms within the fluid with the at least one integrated computational element.
 16. The method of claim 14, further comprising analyzing the fluid for non-viable microorganisms within the fluid with the at least one integrated computational element.
 17. The method of claim 14, wherein the property relating to the at least one microorganism is a concentration of the at least one microorganism within the fluid.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the concentration of the at least one microorganism within the fluid is a trace of the at least one microorganism associated with a microorganism of interest.
 19. The method of claim 14, further comprising: receiving the output signal with a signal processor communicably coupled to the at least one detector; and determining the characteristic of the fluid with the signal processor.
 20. A quality control method for a fluid, comprising: optically interacting at least one integrated computational element with a fluid contained within a flow path and thereby generating optically interacted light, the fluid having at least one microorganism present therein; receiving with at least one detector the optically interacted light; measuring a characteristic of the fluid with the at least one detector, the characteristic of the fluid being a property relating to the at least one microorganism; generating an output signal corresponding to the characteristic of the fluid; and undertaking at least one corrective step when the characteristic of the fluid surpasses a predetermined range of suitable operation.
 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the property relating to the at least one microorganism is a concentration of the at least one microorganism within the fluid.
 22. The method of claim 20, further comprising analyzing the fluid for viable microorganisms within the fluid with the at least one integrated computational element.
 23. The method of claim 22, wherein undertaking the at least one corrective step comprises adding an anti-bacterial or microbiological treatment to the flow path to reduce the concentration of viable microorganisms.
 24. The method of claim 20, further comprising analyzing the fluid for non-viable microorganisms within the fluid with the at least one integrated computational element.
 25. The method of claim 20, wherein generating an output signal corresponding to the characteristic of the fluid further comprises determining the effectiveness of an anti-bacterial or microbiological treatment.
 26. The method of claim 20, wherein generating an output signal corresponding to the characteristic of the fluid further comprises determining the need for an anti-bacterial or microbiological treatment. 